TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOCIETAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES

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SOCIETAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES TERMS AND SKILLS TO KNOW
  • Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) -- A set of rules and guidelines that are set up to regulate Internet use and to protect the user.
  • Antivirus - A utility that searches the hard drive of a computer for viruses and removes any that are found.
  • Backup - Allowing one copy of licensed software to be copied in case something happens to the original copy of the software.
  • Copyright --The ownership of creative work; protection against unauthorized use of authored work. Sources should always be cited when using copyrighted materials.
  • Computer ethics - Safe and responsible use of a computer.
  • Computer literacy - An understanding of computer terms and principles of computer processing.
  • Cyberspace - A term that means the electronic world of the Internet.
  • End Note - Citing sources at the end of a document rather than at the bottom of each page.
  • Ethics - The study of standards of conduct and moral judgment.
  • Flame/Flaming - The unethical practice of having an angry or insulting interaction between Internet users. Flaming usually occurs while chatting, e-mailing or participating in a discussion board.
  • Foot Note - Citing sources on the same page where the source was used at the foot (bottom) of the page.
  • Hackers - Persons who illegally enter computer systems often for the purpose of obtaining information and/or to cause damage; hacking is gaining illegal access into a computer, similar to breaking and entering into a building or home.
  • Malware - Short for malicious software, software designed specifically to damage or disrupt a system, such as a virus.
  • Netiquette - Unwritten and written rules regarding behavior on the web, Internet etiquette
  • Password - A unique set of characters that allow secure entry into a computer. Passwords should contain a mixture of letters, numbers, and symbols; usually 6-8 characters in length and are nonsense except to the user.
  • Phishing - A form of Internet fraud that aims to steal valuable information such as credit card or social security numbers, user ID's and passwords.
  • Piracy - The illegal use of the computer.
  • Plagiarism - Using someone ideas as your own; not citing sources when using copyrighted material.
  • Public Domain - Software written and then donated to the public. Anyone can use and copy public domain software free of charge.
  • Secure Socket Layer (SSL) - Internet encryption that uses a cryptographic system, usually a 2 key system, which consist of a public key and a private or secure key known only to the recipient of the message.
  • Shareware - Software that can be tried before you purchase.
  • Site License - Permission to use software within a specific facility, such as your school
  • Sniffer - A program that hangs out in cyberspace to capture data being transmitted on a network.
  • Spam - forwarding e-mail to hundreds of people, usually junk mail.
  • Spam Blocker - Software that allows the user to block junk mail
  • Spyware - Software that self-installs on computers and tracks the users Internet use mainly for marketing purposes.
  • Trojan Horse - A program disguised to perform a useful function, but is there to infiltrate computers and networks illegally, usually sending a virus onto your computer.
  • Virus - A computer program designed to damage computer files by attaching to a file and spreading from one computer to another. Potential sources of viruses include downloading files from the Internet or a portable storage device or opening email attachments.
  • Worm - A program that gets into your computer and copies itself over and over; will continue to grow until it shuts down the computer.

Skills to Know
TELECOMMUNICATIONS TERMS AND SKILLS TO KNOW
  • Acceptable Use Policies (AUP) - a set of rules specifically for an organization's network such as a school's rules for Internet use
  • Attachment or Attached File - a separate document that you may send with an e-mail message. It might be a document, such as a report that you need to send to a teacher, or it could be a photograph or another type of computer file.
  • Bandwidth - The amount of data that can be transmitted in a fixed amount of time. For digital devices, the bandwidth is usually expressed in bits per second (bps) or bytes per second.
  • Blog - A web log; A web site that contains dated text entries about a particular topic.
  • Bookmark - A url that you save in your browser so all you have to do is click on the title to visit it again.
  • Broadband - A high-speed connection to the Internet like a T-1 or DLS; much faster than a phone line.
  • Browser – software used to view various kinds of Internet resources found on the World Wide Web such as Internet Explorer and Safari.
  • Cache - the place on your computer that temporarily saves information about sites you have visited; will help page load faster the next time you visit that site.
  • Chat - Real time communication between one user and another.
  • Cookies -- Small text files identify a user’s personal preferences and settings and allows the web site's server to retrieve your information from its database.
  • Disclaimer - The denial, refusal, or rejection of a right, power, or responsibility.
  • Discussion Board - A tool that allows groups to communicate online where you can leave and expect to see responses to messages you have left; occurs in real time.
    • Parts of a Discussion Board
      • Forum - Folders containing messages on a particular subject
      • Messages - An individual contribution to a conversation
      • Threads - A series of messages about the same topic
  • Domain Name - an extension used in a URL such as com or .org; used to identify the type of entity to which a site belongs. When doing research, the domain will help the researcher to determine how reliable and accurate the source is. Usually .org and .edu sites are considered more reliable when doing research.
    • Types of Domain Names
      • .com - Commercial - for profit companies
      • .edu - Educational - accredited educational institutions
      • .gov - Government - governmental agencies in the US
      • .org - Organization - not for profit organizations
      • .net - Network - Internet service providers
      • .mil - Military
      • .int - International
      • .us, .jp - Examples of country codes (United States, Japan)
  • Download - saving pictures, music or other files from a network or the Internet to your computer.
  • Email - electronic mail; messages sent and received over the phone lines using a computer and a modem.
  • Embedded - when an object such as a sound or picture file is inserted into a file wherein it becomes a permanent part of the file.
  • Emoticons - A combination of symbols and letters usually sent with e-mail; examples: LOL (laugh out loud) : )
  • Encryption - A procedure that renders the contents of a message or file unintelligible to anyone not authorized to read it. Uses secure socket layer (SSL)
    • Ways to tell a site is safe
      • Look for https: in the URL - Note the "s"
      • Look for SSL certificate vendor seals such as Verisign, GeoTrust, SSL.com, etc.
      • Look for the lock icon
  • Export Data - To format data in such a way that it can be used by another application.
  • Facsimile (FAX) Machine - A device that can send or receive pictures and text over a telephone line.
  • File Extension - A suffix to a file name that further identifies the contents or type of file such as .doc, .html, or .pdf.

Examples of Common File Extensions
Image Files
  • .gif - Graphic Interchange Format - Pronounced "jiff" - A file format for pictures, photographs, and drawings that are compressed so that they can be sent quickly.
  • .jpeg - Joint Photographic Experts Group - A standard for shrinking graphics so they can be sent faster and take up less space on your hard drive.
  • .bmp- Bitmap image file--Computers use bits of 1 and 0 to store data. A bitmap is a map of bits that form a particular picture.
  • .png-Portable network graphic-PNG was created to replace GIF
  • .tif-Tagged image file-one of the most widely supported file formats for storing bit-map images on both Mac and PC's.
Audio Files
  • .mid or .midi--Musical Instrument Digital Interface
  • .mp3-common audio format for consumer audio storage
  • .wav -Waveform Audio File Format used for storing an audio bitstream on PC's
  • .wmv -Windows media audio file
Text Files
  • .doc - Microsoft 2003 word document
  • .docx - Microsoft 2007 word document
  • .rtf - Rich Text Format
  • .txt - Plain Text file
Data Files
  • .csv - Comma Separated Values File
  • .ppt - Microsoft 2003 PowerPoint Presentation
  • .pptx - Microsoft 2007 PowerPoint Presentation
  • .xls - Microsoft 2003 Excel Spreadsheet
  • .xlsx - Microsoft 2007 Excel Spreadsheet
  • .mdb - Microsoft 2003 Access Database
  • .accdb - Microsoft 2007 Access Database
Web Files
  • .asp - Active Server Page
  • .css - Cascading Style Sheet
  • .htm or .html - Hypertext markup language file
Page Layout Files
  • .pdf - Portable Document Format (You can not type on a PDF)
Compressed Files
  • .zip - Zipped or compressed files
Video Files
  • .asf -Advanced Systems Format File
  • .avi -Audio Video Interleave File
  • .mov - Apple Quicktime Movie File
  • .mp4 - MPEG-4 Video File
  • .mpg -MPEG Video File
  • .flv - Flash Video File
  • .wmv-Windows Media Video File

  • File Transfer Protocol (FTP) - A program on the Internet that is used to transfer files from one comptuer to another; used to upload or download files to web sites.
  • Firewall - A computer or computer software that stops unauthorized users from accessing private information.
  • GPS - Global Positioning System - Satellite navigational system of satellites and receiving devices used to compute positions on the earth.
  • Hardware - The physical nuts and bolts of a computer that you can touch such as a mouse, keyboard, monitor, etc.
  • Home Page - An introductory screen on a web page on the World Wide Web, used to welcome visitors.
  • Hyperlink - Special text when clicked on takes the user from one related topic to another, usually appears blue and/or underlined.
  • Icon - small images on a web page or on your desktop that you click to open a program, a file, or to jump to a hyperlink.
  • Import Data - To use data that has been created by another application.
  • Input Devices - Any piece of hardware used to make choices or add content such as a keyboar, scanner, digital camera, mouse, joystick, etc.
  • Internet - A global network of thousands of other computer networks that offers e-mail and information retrieval services to millions of people.
  • Intranet - An internal internet belonging to an organization such as a school.
    • *There's one major difference between an intranet and the Internet: The Internet is an open, public space, while the Intranet is designed to be private. An Intranet may be accessible from the Internet, but as a rule it's protected by a password or accessible only to employees or other authorized users.
  • Internet Service Provider (ISP) - A company that charges a fee to provide access to the Internet; Example: AOL, Mindspring, Prodigy, CompuServe, and BellSouth.
  • IP ADDRESS - INTERNET PROTOCOL ADDRESS - needed to connect to Internet.
  • Link - A connection between one page and another page or document.
  • Local Area Network (LAN) - Two or more computers connected to each other in a local area; within the same building or room
  • Network - Two or more computers linked together.
  • Network Administrator - Monitors all files for the organization's network and is responsible for security.
  • Output Device - A device that lets you see what the computer has accomplished such as a computer display screen or printer.
  • Plug In - A program that you download that allows you to view movies, play sounds, or play games on the Internet.
  • Search Engine - Software that searches, gathers and identifies information from a database based on keywords, titles and text.
  • Simulation - Models of real-world activities that allow you to explore environments hat may be dangerous or unavailable.
  • Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) - Allows computers all over the world to communicate through e-mail.
  • Streaming Video - Video that is sent continuously and plays as it arrives.
  • Telecommunications - The act of sending and receiving information, such as data, text, pictures, voice, and video.
  • Teleconference - Two or more people who are geographically distant having a meeting across a telecommunications link.
  • Threaded Discussion - Occurs on the Internet where users post a question or comment to an online discussion board and other users respond or comment such as on a Forum/Discussion Board or Blog.
  • Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) - The collection of rules used to connect computers/networks.
  • URL - Uniform Resource Locator - Website address
  • Upload - The process of sending information from your computer to another computer electronically
  • Video Conferencing - Using a camera and phone lines or the Internet, video conferencing allows individuals at two or more sites to see and hear each other and to share and collaborate on graphical and text based data.
  • Virtual Reality (VR) - Computer simulation that allows the user to interact with 3D graphics and/or animations
  • User Name - First part of an e-mail address. Example: jsmith is the user name of the following e-mail address. jsmith@wcpss.net
  • Web 2.0 - The term given to describe a second generation of the World Wide Web that allows users to collaborate and share information online (is interactive rather than just obtaining information).
  • Webcast - An audio or video broadcast that is conducted over the Internet. Often, "webcast" refers to a live streaming production.
  • Web Browser - An application that enables a person to access sites on the World Wide Web; may incorporate e-mail and newsgroup software.
  • Wide Area Network (WAN) - Two or more computers connected to each other over a long distance, usually between buildings.
  • WiFi - This abbreviated word comes from "Wireless Fidelity." While there are specific standards for WiFi, most people use the abbreviated word loosely to refer to all wireless networks.
  • Wiki - A website that visitors can edit using their browser. Groups can use a wiki to author documents collaboratively. An example is Wikipedia.org , the collaborative encyclopedia.
  • World Wide Web (WWW) -- The section of the Internet that allows access to text, graphics, sound, and even video. A lot of free information can be found on the WWW.
  • WYSIWYG - An acronym for "What You See Is What You Get" and is pronounced "wizzy wig". Means that the text and graphics shown on your screen exactly match your printouts.

Internet Research Skills
When doing research:
  • The first step is to narrow the topic. When narrowing the search use:
    • Quotation marks to search for things together
    • A plus (+) to search for one thing AND the other
    • A minus (-) to search for one thing and NOT the other
  • Check the research with other sites such as educational sites to determine the reliability of the information
  • Remember to always cite your sources

Controlling Web Experiences
Atomic Learning Firefox - Mac users
Atomic Learning Internet Exporer - PC users
Atomic Learning Safari - Mac users
Use Atomic Learning to Learn about these skills
  • Pop up blockers
  • Managing cookies
  • Clearing private data
  • Adding Bookmarks

Email Skills
Atomic Learning GroupWise for Mac users
Atomic Learning GroupWise for PC users
Use Atomic Learning to learn these skills
  • Attach a document
  • Attach a folder of files (compressed file)
  • Create e-mail folders
  • Confirming delivery of items you have sent
  • Retracting emails that you have sent
  • Forwarding messages to other users
  • Add signature
  • Manage groups/contacts
  • Run Notify
  • Using Rules